Steering ski for snow vehicle

Abstract

A ski for a snow vehicle includes a snow contacting portion that has a generally horizontal surface and a keel depending therefrom. The keel includes a keel base, a first inclined surface, and a second inclined surface. The keel base extends laterally from a longitudinal central plane of the ski to a lateral extent. The first inclined surface extends between the keel base and an inflection line that extends longitudinally. The second inclined surface extends between the inflection line and the generally horizontal surface. The inflection line is located no farther laterally from the longitudinal central plane than is the lateral extent of the keel base.

1. A ski for a snow vehicle comprising a snow contacting portion and a ski mounting bracket opposite the snow contacting portion, the snow contacting portion comprising a generally horizontal surface, a keel depending from the generally horizontal surface, and a wear bar depending from the keel, the keel comprising a keel base that contacts the snow surface, a first inclined surface, and a second inclined surface, the first inclined surface extending between a first inflection point adjacent to the keel base and a second inflection point intersected by a longitudinally extending inflection line, the second inclined surface extending between the inflection line and a third inflection point adjacent to the generally horizontal surface, the inflection line being located at an elevation above the wear bar, wherein the second inclined surface is between a vertical central longitudinal plane of the ski and a first straight line extending between the first inflection paint and the third inflection point, and wherein the third inflection point is between the vertical central longitudinal plane and a second straight line extending between the second inflection point and an outer edge of the ski. 
   
   
     2. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the second inclined surface faces downwardly when the ski is coupled with the snow vehicle. 
   
   
     3. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the first inclined surface is generally parallel to a central longitudinal plane of the ski. 
   
   
     4. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the first inclined surface faces upwardly. 
   
   
     5. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the first inclined surface faces upwardly. 
   
   
     6. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the first inclined surface is generally vertically oriented when the ski is coupled with the snow vehicle. 
   
   
     7. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the second inclined surface comprises an arcuate surface that extends firm the inflection line to the generally horizontal surface. 
   
   
     8. The ski for snow vehicle  claim 7 , wherein the first inclined surface faces upwardly. 
   
   
     9. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the keel base extends generally perpendicularly from a central longitudinal plane of the ski to a lateral extent, the inflection line being located at a lateral location between the lateral extent of the keel base and the central longitudinal plane. 
   
   
     10. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the keel base extends generally perpendicularly from a central longitudinal plane of the ski to a lateral extent, the inflection line being located directly above the lateral extent when the ski is coupled with the snow vehicle. 
   
   
     11. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the inflection line is closer to the generally horizontal surface than it is to the keel base. 
   
   
     12. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the inflection line is closer to the keel base than it is to the generally horizontal surface. 
   
   
     13. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the second inclined surface is inclined downwardly from the third inflection point to the second inflection point when the ski is coupled with the snow vehicle. 
   
   
     14. A ski for a snow vehicle comprising a snow contacting portion and a ski mounting bracket opposite the snow contacting portion, the snow contacting portion comprising a generally horizontal surface, a keel depending from the generally horizontal surface, the keel comprising a keel base that contacts the snow surface and a first inclined surface, the first inclined surface forming an angle with the keel base of about ninety degrees or less, a transverse cross-section of the ski including a first inflection point adjacent to the keel base, a second inflection point between the first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, and a third inflection point located between the second inclined surface and the generally horizontal surface, wherein the second inclined surface is located between a first straight line extending between the first and third inflection points and a vertical central longitudinal plane of the ski, and wherein the third inflection point is between the vertical central longitudinal plane and a second straight line extending between the second inflection point and an outer edge of the ski. 
   
   
     15. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the keel further comprises a radius portion provided between the inclined surface and the generally horizontal surface. 
   
   
     16. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 14 , further comprising a wear bar depending from the keel base of the keel. 
   
   
     17. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the second inclined surface is inclined downwardly from the third inflection point to the second inflection point when the ski is coupled with the snow vehicle. 
   
   
     18. A ski for a snow vehicle comprising a snow contacting portion and a ski mounting bracket opposite the snow contacting portion, the snow contacting portion comprising a generally horizontal surface and a keel depending from the generally horizontal surface, the keel comprising a keel base that contacts the snow surface, a first inclined surface, and a second inclined surface, the keel base extending laterally from a longitudinal cent-al plane of the ski to a lateral extent, the first inclined surface extending between a first inflection point adjacent to the keel base and a second inflection point intersected by a longitudinally extending inflection line, the second inclined surface extending between the inflection line and a third inflection point adjacent to the generally horizontal surface, wherein the inflection line is located no farther laterally from the longitudinal central plane than is the lateral extent of the keel base, wherein the second inclined surface is between a vertical central longitudinal plane of the ski and a first straight line extending between the first inflection point and the third inflection point, and wherein the third inflection point is between the vertical central longitudinal plane and a second straight line extending between the second inflection point and an outer edge of the ski. 
   
   
     19. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the second inclined surface faces downwardly. 
   
   
     20. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the first inclined surface is generally parallel to the longitudinal central plane of the ski. 
   
   
     21. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the inflection line is located mid-way between the keel base and the generally horizontal surface. 
   
   
     22. The ski for snow vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the second inclined surface is inclined downwardly from the third inflection point to the second inflection point when the ski is coupled with the snow vehicle.